the stream

each day your life blood flows from start to end
upon the crusted brow your shadow flows.
from dawn to dusk your urgent power sends
all precious gifts upon your step bestowed.

you bring new life to they who pause and rest
upon your banks to cool and touch your soul.
of life, they drink of you, upon their breast
while dining free on deadly feasts untold.

vile curse of killing fields take life for life
and feast in sight of all your glory staid.
who tastes the blood of every victim’s strife
but they who lie in rest beside your shade?

pour forth healing waters upon my face
and rid me of this deadly fall from grace.

© 2007 BY W GARY FORRESTER

sometimes

for the victims of the VT massacre...

i feel so cold, sometimes
when the harsh wind blows
i hold to what i know
and try not to show
that i'm frightened
by the passing storm
of rage

it terrifies me, sometimes
the lightning flash
a moment in time
that sears the soul
i fear to realize
humanities cursed fall
to mortality

i feel so numb, sometimes
when i see the scathing touch
of mankind's cruel stroke
of vile thirst for blood
stealing the very breath
from those who share
this life

i weep alone, sometimes
for the loss of it all
the innocence of childhood
falls to the torrents of evil
crowned on the brow of man
taking and ravaging all
that is pure

i pray aloud, sometimes
to god in utter awe
and fear of the one
that knows my thoughts
and sees my inner fear
to act upon the vile display
of discontent

i curse it all, sometimes
and despise the world
that maligns and kills
it's own beating heart
robbing history of new life
replacing the joy of youth
with sorrow

i reach in hope, sometimes
to grasp the reigns anew
to ride the winds of change
in peaceful freedoms way
man's potential fulfilled
refreshed and renewed
in god's grace

© 2007 BY W. GARY FORRESTER

face the fate

i search my soul
a journey low
for purity
to bestow
.
a sage for peace
prosperity
quite rest
for burden's lease
.
i delve in inner
solitude
remarkable
ingratitude
.
i seek composite
fortitude
to linger on
with attitude
.
i stand before
myself in fear
of nakedness
unrevealed
.
i long for grace
to share anew
a gentle touch
a healing dew
.
the world she moans
in burdened song
the battles long
bitter wrongs
.
mankind has sung
a mournful dirge
to calm the storm
of deadly surge
.
the hate it seals
the fateful doom
a viper's sting
in deadly gloom
.
a cry for peace
on deaf ear lies
baneful noise
solemn cries
.
cry we must
before we die
inside our souls
justice lies
.
reach for truth
inside of me
fear not the wrath
never flee
.
poisoned man
in hatred scorns
the innate peace
each heart adorns
.
i pray for right
humanity
empowered sight
so all can see
.
a new found way
in peace abides
the human race
in love survives
.
i long for how
i might repress
enigma's war
on righteousness
.
my heart does bleed
for mankind's ill
of hatred's fateful
merciless kill
.
live in peace
at one with all
make no excuse
for the warring call
.
absolve the hate
that feeds our fear
and alienates
what is not clear
.
i cannot rest
apart from those
who share the vest
of human clothes
.
we taste the sweet
and bitter life
that is our lot
in common strife
.
both you and i
we and they
alike we stand
before the grave
.
we face the fate
we share the same
at last we pine
shorn of fame
.
at peace we lie
at last at rest
the hateful vows
all in jest
.
we share the earth
now and then
at peace and rest
soon in the end
.
wisdom cries
and longs to share
beauty in word
and deeds declared
.
her glory it shines
in dignified clay
creation's bright hope
sanctified way
.
together we walk
varied in path
choosing our way
in peace or in wrath
.
no matter the road
we share our need
we cannot pass
life we must lead
.
i long for peace
no wars no greed
standing as one
united and free

© 2006 BY W. GARY FORRESTER